InstallAware

Once I have released an application I will often release maintenance updates.

I never know what version the customer is using so I intentionally avoid major/minor/patch updates because I would need so many to cater for all the different upgrade possibilities. Within the exe I include code to check versions, update tables, delete old files etc etc so it is all done on the fly.

I want to produce a tiny installation that would contain probably the main application exe and perhaps one or two support files. When this maintenance release installs I want it to simply overwrite the main exe and any other files, and obviously install any new files. I do NOT want it to put anything into the registry, shortcut folder, add/remove programs etc..

I can't see whether this is possible in IA and if it is possible, how to do it. I created a new project and copied the product code over from the original application project (different upgrade code) and when I installed the maintenance release it uninstalled all the original files. I tried with a new product code and a new upgrade code but it put an entry into the Add/Remove programs applet. I tried deleting the entries for Add-remove program, and deleting the Shortcut folder entry. I have not touched the Registry options page in any way in either project. There is nothing in the Shortcuts page.

Many thanks

Stephen

Hi Stephen,

We already talked about this over email, but here is again my answer for the benefit of everyone else:

1) Add all new files as support files
2) Copy them directly into their target folders using Call DLL Function, CopyFileA in kernel32.dll, and the $SUPPORTDIR$ source path

OR

1) Use the Move Files command to install your new files
2) After Apply Install is called, call Apply Uninstall to remove the Add-Remove Entry for the new setup (this will not undo files that have been moved)

3) You will of course need to read the appropriate target path (the $TARGETDIR$ of the main install) from the registry or elsewhere

Gulp - many thanks. I am a complete novice at this.

Any chance you could post a few lines of code illustrating the approaches you suggest. If I have something to work from I am fairly sure I can figure it out. I have looked at the help and it doesn't give an example of using each command with sample parameters.

Sincerely

Stephen

Try this:



in paste-able form: